Hyperthermia for deep seated tumours – possibilities of heating with capacitive devices

Abstract

The review examines the general principles of capacitive electromagnetic hyperthermia (EMHT), the distribution of electromagnetic energy in various experimental models and in patients’ tumors, the design features of applicators from various capacitive hyperthermic systems and their role in achieving hyperthermic mode in tumors of deep localization. In classical capacitive EMHT, the main obstacle in achieving the required temperature in such tumors is overheating of the subcutaneous fatty tissue under the electrodes. For some capacitive hyperthermic systems, the heating of adipose tissues is enhanced due to the fact that the applicator design does not conform to certain technical requirements. In capacitive EMHT at frequencies of 8–13.56 MHz, obtaining the minimum hyperthermic mode is possible with output powers of 500–800 W, maximum – 1000–1200 W and above.
 The results of the use of various hyperthermic capacitive systems in patients with malignant tumors of internal organs are analyzed.